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Hurricane Movies and Images--Past and Present

2005 Hurricane & Typhoon Archives

Hurricane Katrina

So far this year, I have been busy working on other projects. So,... the frequency of site updates has been dramatically reduced. But, I do have some imagery and thoughts on Hurricane Katrina. Being a New Orlean's native,
I was horrified to see what happened to my home town. Much of the imagery below was obtained from weathertap.com, GOES Hot Stuff, the New York Times, and NOAA. The amazing thing is that, believe it or not, it could have been much worse
for all involved. As of 10/7/05, there have been over 1000 reported fatalities from Lousiana and about 220 fatalities in Mississippi.

09/11/04, 20:00z--TA JUST RECEIVED FROM AN AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE PLANE INDICATE
THAT IVAN HAS REGAINED CATEGORY FIVE INTENSITY ON THE
SAFFIR/SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. THE CENTRAL PRESSURE HAS FALLEN TO
AN EXTRAPOLATED PRESSURE OF 914 MB AND THE ESTIMATED SURFACE WINDS
HAVE INCREASED TO 165 MPH...270 KM/HR. THESE NEW VALUES OR FURTHER
UPDATES WILL BE INCORPORATED IN THE NEXT ADVISORY. Here is a VISIBLE ANIM GIF of Ivan thru 1932z. Wow! An amazing storm! Look out Grand Cayman.

09/02/04--Hurricane Frances North American weather perspective
Spectacular! Frances is a very large storm. The eye is
over San Salvador. Note the impressive outflow. SAN
SALVADOR JUST REPORTED A PRESSURE OF 948 MB...27.99 INCHES.

09/02/04--An Infrared Quicktime of Hurricane Frances
as he moves directly over San Salvador. Note the reduction of the eye feature of the storm. The center circulation seems to be totally disrupted. HOWEVER, SAN SALVADOR REPORTED SUSTAINED WINDS OF 120
MPH WHEN THE LEADING EDGE OF THE EYEWALL PASSED OVER THE ISLAND...
AND SUSTAINED WINDS OF 101 MPH IN THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE EYEWALL.
THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY REPORTED BY RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT WAS 948 MB...27.99 INCHES. SAN SALVADOR REPORTED A
PRESSURE OF 948 MB ABOUT TWO HOURS AGO WHEN THE EASTERN PORTION OF
THE EYE PASSED OVER THE ISLAND.
Some obervations from Millenium Tropical Weather "As I write this mid-afternoon Thursday, Frances eye has closed up somewhat and become shrouded.
That in and of itself is meaningless, as this could simply be another eyewall replacement cycle. However, it has been accompanied by a somewhat less symmetric central dense overcast (CDO) and a
modest pressure rise up to the highest pressure we've seen in a while. The latest recon fix put Frances at 949mb. That's up roughly 10mb since this morning. While pressures can also rise during an eyewall replacement cycle, rising by 10mb is excessive. "

Here are some photos from the damage on San Salvador taken by Dr. Doug Gamble, University of North carolina-Wilmington

Hurricane Charley made landfall today (Aug 13, 2004) just north of Sannibel Island along the western Florida coast.
Areas just south of the Charley's landfalling center experienced a significant storm surge. Charley rapidely intensified prior to landfall. At 9:00am, central pressure was 970mb. By 4:00pm, Charley's pressure bottomed out
at 941mb, a 29mb drop in only 6-7 hours. Recon reported flight level winds of 148 knots at his peak--the eye had contracted to 5nm when he went inland over North Captiva island.

Hurricane Charley moves straight up Charlotte Harbor with a central pressure bottoming out at 941 mb and a 5nm eye. Although a very small storm (hurricane force winds extended out only 25 miles from the center), the storm surge must have been significant (Visible Animated Gif, 08/13/04, thru 556pm.)

08/31/03--Our first significant storm of the season. Fabian is very well organized with an eye embedded in a central, dense, overcast. Satellite
estimates were a conservative 115 knots, estimated central pressure of 952mb. Here is visible image taken at 2045z.

QUICKTIME Movie--Hurricane Isabel "Winds-Up" to a Category 5 Hurricane, 9/12/03 For a 9MB larger version, click here. For a smaller, streamed version,
click here
Note the dramatic intensification early in this 10 day movie
followed by an amazing collapse of her inner core. North Carolina was very lucky!
Here is an MPEG-4 Version of "10 Days of Isabel"

09/11/03--Isabel recahes category 5 status, 921 mb and 140 kt winds.
Check out this GOES 12 2015z visible image. Isabel is the first Atlantic category 5 storm since Hurricane Mitch in 1998. from the National Hurricane Center "DVORAK T-NUMBERS FROM ALL
3 AGENCIES...TAFB...SAB...AND AFWA ARE NOW 7.0 AND OBJECTIVE
T-NUMBERS ARE ALSO ABOUT THE SAME VALUE. THIS SUPPORTS A CURRENT
INTENSITY ESTIMATE OF 140 KT...A CATEGORY 5 ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
HURRICANE SCALE. " Sure wish I had some Recon!

Hurricane Isabel GOES 12 Rapid Scans Quicktime Movie. From GOES Hot Stuff--"a movie made from occasional bursts of 8 images at one-minute intervals. Notice the mesocale swirls in the eye, particularly the 5-armed "starfish" cloud formation at the beginning of the sequence".

09/13/03--From NHNC "Isabel has completed an eyewall replacement cycle based on a
13/1102z SSMI overpass showing a closed 35 nmi diameter eye. The
intensity is maintained at 130 kt based on continuity with the
previous data...a consensus satellite intensity estimate of 127
kt...raw ODT values of t6.5...or 127 kt...and the fact that the eye
has cleared out nicely and surrounding eyewall cloud tops have
cooled to -70c and colder once again." Here is the "
Five Day Forecast Map"

At 5:00pm, the NHC's discussion "the afternoon plethora of recon wind and pressure data indicate that
Isabel remains barely below category 5 intensity. Air Force reserve
hurricane hunters measured 700 mb flight-level winds of 150 kt...or
135 kt surface equivalent...in the northeast quadrant of the
eyewall...while a NOAA hurricane hunter dropsonde report indicated
171 kt average winds in the lower 150 meters...or 139 surface wind
equivalent. Based on this information...Isabel is being maintained
at 135 kt. The outflow pattern remains very impressive and has
continued to expand. " Here is a 1945z Thermal IR image and a
fabulous water vapor thru 1938z animated gif movie Isabel continues to expand
in outflow and coverage. The eye is about 45nm in diameter. Here is a beautiful 2015z Water Vapor View of
the N. Atlantic.

The storm
is also less symmetrical and the once "perfect" eye has taken on a ragged appearence,
as shown on this 1132z visible image. Pressure had climbed to 940mb.
If this trend continues, Isabel will weaken to a Category 3 storm today. From the NHC 11:00am discussion: "satellite imagery indicates that the inner core structure continues
to break down...with a less well-defined eye in visible imagery.
Eyewall convection has become asymmetric and fragmented...and the
overall convective structure is now more banded than it was over
the past couple of days. The latest Dvorak satellite intensity
estimates are 115 kt. The advisory intensity is lowered to 120 kt
and another reconnaissance aircraft will be in the hurricane at
18z.....There will be plenty of warm water
under the hurricane until cooler shelf waters are encountered right
along the coastline. One key to the ultimate landfall intensity
will be the evolution of an upper-level trough that could enhance
the outflow and reduce the shear prior to landfall if it digs as
sharply as forecast by the GFS. With this in mind...Isabel could
still be a major hurricane at landfall. "

09/16/03--Isabel stated the day as a category 2 storm. Pressure had risen to 959mb. But, in the evening, she was beginning to get her act together again.
Form the NHC "AF963 1713A ISABEL OB 11
MAX FL WIND 95 KT SE QUAD 1720Z. MUCH IMPROVED RADAR PRESENTATI
ON. SPIRAL BANDING EYEWALL. "
Here is a 2200z
IR image. Kind of makes you go hmmm.....

09/20/02--This excellent Animated GIF (1315z) from the Univ of Hawaii was very interesting. The western Gulf of Mexico has an upper level low
and surface cold front that will impact Isidore. But How? Long-range omputer models were all over the map! At 0900z, Isidore had a central pressure of
966 mb and sustained surface winds of about 90 knots. There is also an upper low to the NE in the Atlantic. Both lows will have an impact on Isidore's
outflow.

09/23/02--Isidore takes a dramatic turn southward onto the Yucatan. He has been downgraded to a tropical storm. While the forecast calls for Isidore to turn west, then north back over the open Gulf,
there has been no indication that this was going to happen. It better happen soon, or Isidore is a "Goner"!

Allison,an early season storm, was a prodigous rain maker, dumping record rainfall totals in southern Texas and Louisiana.
Damage estimates are in the billions of dollars. Severe thunderstorms, floods, and tornadoes killed about 41 people, 23 in
Texas alone. Here are estimated rainfall totals for the Houston, Tx area on 06/09/01.
The storm lasted more than 10 days! Up to 40 inches of rain fell in parts of Louisiana, 30-40 inches near Houston, Tx, and
between 6-12 inches along the gulf coast to New England.

08/18/01--Well, Chantal weakened this morning as the low-level center moved rapidly ahead of its
convection and upper level center. The storm quite frankly looked
like it might not be able to recover. Here is a satellite photo of the exposed
center of circulation. Note that most of the convection is east of the center.

10/08/01--Iris dramatically intensifies into a very intense Category 4 storm as she moved through the west Caribbean Sea.
Here is an amazing Enhanced IR Animated gif from
the University of Hawaii. As always, GOES Hot Stuff pulls through with an excellent visible image of this impressive, tightly wound storm. Did
you know that hurricane force winds extended outward only 15 miles from the center? Iris also, just prior to landfall, went through successive eyewall replacement cycles.
At one time, she had three eyewalls! This small, intense storm had a land falling pressure of just over 950mb.
Note the "pin-prick" size eye
from the Univ of Wisconsin.

Check out these amazing visible images of Iris at 2202z and 2215z on 10/08/01. WOW! An extremely tight inner core.

CIMSS has some excellent JAVA animations of Iris as she rapidly intensified just prior to landfall. Iris' Upper wind
flow resulted in
high levels of divergence which probably stimulated her intensification.

Michelle--An Intense, Late Fall Hurricane

Hurricane Michelle rapidly developed in the NW Caribbean. By Saturday, 11/03/01, her pressure had dropped
to 937mb and flight level winds were 128kts (1100z) as she meandered slowly northward. She was expected to reach peak intensity Saturday afternoon and gradually
weaken as she begins to interact with a deepening upper-level trough. I don't think she'll ever make it to Florida, but she may be a category 4 storm when she hits Cuba.

Why the Late August-Early September Hurricane Seasons has, well,
sucked. Note the very strong upper
level trough which wrecked havoc on tropical system development
and persistence due to strong wind shear. When will it go away?

Hurricane Jose

10/20/99-Jose intensifies to 978mb with winds near 100mph. The
intense core is near ANTIGUA in the NE Caribbean. A visible
image at 13:45z. A NOAA GOES 8 Color
Enhanced IR image shows Jose just prior to diminishing in intensity
due to SW shear.

9/13/99-Floyd's pressure dropped to 922mb, 27.23in, at 0800z.
A dropsonde reported winds of 168kts! This Hi-res
Thermal IR, thru 1030z, shows that Floyd's central structure
has become less well defined than earlier. Floyd was transgressing
a 32C warm core eddy. I think Floyd has jogged to the north a bit.

Not good for San Salvador: Floyd appears to be redeveloping
his CDO on the western side of the eye as this Hi
Res IR animation thru 1645z shows. Hi res visible image
at 1658z; 1745z
water vapor; 1918z
San Salvador is due west of the eye. Pressure was 926mb. The
eye wall will impact San Salvador in less than 5 hours.

Spectacular Visible and Enhanced IR Imagery as the eyewall
rakes my favorite island, San Salvador Here is a spectacular
9/12-9/14 quicktime movie of Floyd as he approached the Bahamas.
From GOES Hot Stuff

Floyd has been steadily losing strength as he approached the
Carolina coasts. Pressure had risen to 949mb-28.02 inches by
2100z. Deep convection
was diminishing rapidly. This trend continued till landfall.

1998 Hurricanes & Typhoons

Special! A Chronology of Category 5 Hurricane Mitch

Ah! October is the month of beautiful seasonal change. Leaves change
color and drop as the northern hemisphere prepares for winter. Occasionally,
a tropical system develops that turns out to be very impressive despite
seasonal changes which lurk just north of a system. Hurricane Mitch rapidly
intensified on Saturday, Oct. 24 in the western Caribbean--pressures dropped
about 27 millibars in 13 hours, 49 mb in 22 hours! Yet, the best was yet
to come!

This CIMSS IR movie
does the same thing--notice how we rapidly see a very ragged storm
develop a well defined eye. Wow, explosive deepening! Note also the
dynamic state of our northern hemisphere atmosphere.

Here is a Monterey
NRL water vapor movie on 10/25/98 which illustrates the explosive
deepening as shown on Sunday morning. Note the trough to Mitch's NE
and the high pressure building over the Gulf of Mexico. Winds on 10/25/98
approached 125 kts at flight level as pressures dropped to 942 millibars
(27.81 inches).The upper
level synoptic situation was excellent on 10/25/98. What will
the future hold?

An IR movie
(through 0715z 10/27/98) of Mitch (from Monterrey NRL). NOAA put
together a nice quicktime
movie of Mitch before he weakened. Satellite transmissions were
interrupted later for most of the day. Note the strong westerlies
just to his north. Recon at 0815z 10/27/98 reported that the central
pressure had risen to 917 mb (27.07 inches).

What a difference a day makes! Mitch weakened considerably as his
center meandered near the northern HONDURAS coast. Pressure rose to
948 mb (near 28.00 inches) and maximum flight level winds dropped
to about 100 kts. This 10/28/98 1545 z water
vapor image shows the dramatic weakening trend--upwelling and
the rugged mountains of Honduras have taken their toll. Where will
he go next? Look at the 72
hour NOGAPS forecast. Hmmm!

On 10/29/98, Mitch was only a shadow of its former strength. At
1130z, recon found that the central pressure had risen to 987 mb (29.15
inches). As this 1715z water
vapor image and 1845z
visible image illustrate, Mitch was being hammered by its proximity
to the Honduras coast and that country's high mountains. I have included
the 0000z 10/29/98 Aviation model 300
mb analysis. I think Mitch has had it!

Mitch rememerged in the Gulf of Mexico, moved across the Yucatan
peninsula and impacted Florida as a strong tropical/extratropical
hybrid storm before moving off into the Atlantic. Here is a map of
Mitch's long and convoluted
storm track.

As of 11/8/98, there are estimates of over 13,000 people killed in
Central America, mostly from mud slides and river flooding. Absolutely
unbelievable. Sometimes I forget about the impact of extreme weather
phenomena on people.

A Quicktime Water Vapor movie of Super
Typhoon Zeb on Oct. 13, 1998. Zeb was approaching the Phillipines and
expected to soon recurve towards the north. Category 5 Zeb had sustained winds
of 155 kts with gusts to 190 kts. This visible
image illustrates the CDO and well developed eye. This enhanced
IR is even more impressive. All images are from CIMSS.

Check out this absolutely fantastic visible image of Georges on 9/19/98.
He has a very well defined
eye, and outflow pattern. Perhaps most interestingly, the ocean surface
is visible as well! Wow!!! His estimated intensity was 948 mb and 110
kts!. From Monterey NRL.

An IR Movie of Georges
as he intensifies on 9/19/98. Georges reached Cat 4 status later that
day at 938mb and 130 kts. Recon reported a flight level wind of 166 kts!
Note the developing eye!

A spectacular visible
shot from NRL Monterey of Hurricane Georges eye traversing the eastern
coast of Hispanola on 09/22/98. After having struck Puerto Rico, Georges
reintensified while crossing the Mona Passage. Recon found winds of 117
kts and a pressure near 960 mb. Holy horse!!

Hurricane Opal, a 1995 late
season Gulf hurricane, struck the Florida Panhandle after weakening to
category 3 status. Note the strong shear to her NW. Opal briefly flirted
with category 5 status in the south-central Gulf. This next quicktime
shows some wave action along
the Florida coast. From CNN.